Trenton council to vote to install George Muschal as interim mayor

TRENTON — The city council will vote Thursday to install acting Mayor and council President George Muschal as interim mayor.

Council members decided to amend the agenda for their regularly scheduled meeting to include the action of appointing Muschal to the interim post. He will serve until a new mayor — elected in May — takes over July 1.

At-large Councilman Alex Bethea was the only council member who voted against the move.

After the meeting he said he thought the council should have considered installing Business Administrator Sam Hutchinson.

“He has been there through the tough times,” Bethea said.

Hutchinson has done a lot of work to keep the city running while former Mayor Tony Mack was under investigation by the FBI and during his subsequent trial on corruption charges.

Mack was found guilty on all counts on Feb. 7 and was removed from office by a state judge last week.

Mack attempted to fight his ouster, arguing that the judge should wait until he was sentenced by a federal court judge in May to step down from office.

Muschal was sworn in as acting mayor a few hours after Mack was removed.

“I have been looked over for a promotion,” Bethea said. “I know what that feels like.”
Muschal, whose term as acting mayor lasts for 30 days, said he is ready to continue serving as mayor and hopes to do the best for the city and its residents during the next four months.

“I believe we are going to set a high standard for this next few months, and everyone is going to be happy,” said Muschal, whose characteristic booming voice was restricted by a sore throat. He said there is no time for him to be sick, as there is too much work to be done.

Tonight, Muschal’s first meeting as council president and acting mayor, all of the city’s department directors were in attendance.

Department directors rarely show up at the meetings unless the council is considering an item for their department.

During his first day in office, Muschal said he learned that the city’s firefighters need new gear.

The council also will vote Thursday to add $242,4000 to the city’s budget for personal protective equipment for the fire department. That funding will include more than $188,900 for replacement gear, $46,000 for reserve gear and $7,000 to repair gear.

The council also will consider adding $189,000 to the budget to repair potholes.

Public Works Director Luis Mollinedo said the amount will cover a three-month contract to bring in a crew for three months to make the repairs.